I have a great idea for an invention. I have done research and there is
a big consumer market for it. I would like to bring it to the marketplace.
CAN YOU ADVISE ME?

I have an invention that everyone in my family loves. I know that it can
make a lot of money.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW?

I made a prototype by hand and it functions beautifully. I really want to
get this product
to retail.
CAN YOU GUIDE ME?

I have a patent pending and professional drawings on an invention. I would
like to
get it licensed.
CAN YOU HELP ME?

These are typical snapshot situations with which the inventions service provider is solicited. If you guide these people, it means that you are a consultant.
Perhaps a ‘reluctant’, unpaid consultant; but a consultant, nonetheless.
By trade, you may be a prototyper, an engineer, a patent attorney, a manufacturer,
or like me, an inventions marketer and licensing agent. But you are a consultant
as well.

Now that you are a consultant, in addition to whatever regular services you
provide, you’ll need to set up standards by which you are willing to consult.
I offer you some possible considerations. Create conditions that suit your particular
needs. Inventors take note; the more fully you prepare for the consultation,
the more benefit available to you from the consultant.

GOAL

To create the greatest amount of value to the inventor, in the most concise
period of time.

EVALUATION & CRITERIA

Pre-qualify your prospective consultees. Establish what the person expects
to get out of the consultation. Determine whether the individual is logical
and has realistic expectations. Is he/she serious about moving forward through
all the steps to bring the invention to fruition? Sign a Non-Disclosure agreement
so that you can preview the invention to determine if you are interested in
consulting on it; and, moreover, that you can deliver value to the inventor
by doing so.

MATERIALS

What materials must the inventor make available in order for you to service
him/her? Determine if it is a CAD drawing, working prototype, list of features
and benefits, patent search results, patent pending or issued, demographic info.,
market research, costs of molds and production; or whatever it is that you need
from the inventor, in order for you to provide the best advice.

CONSULTING BY FACE OR PHONE, FAX & FEDEX

Determine the best method of communication for both of you. It may be a combination
of all of these methods.

LENGTH & FREQUENCY OF CONSULTATIONS

Determine the length of time of your initial consultations, (mine are one hour,)
and whether you are willing to provide limited or ongoing follow-up sessions;
specifying how many, and length of each. Keep in mind how much of your time
this takes away from your ‘core’ business service.

FEES

Evaluate the least amount you can afford to charge, based on time spent away
from your core business. (When I figure this fee, I throw in a generosity or
‘X’ factor.) Consulting is an opportunity for you to give back to
the community. Considering the mistreatment that many inventors suffer from
‘Scam’ companies that take tens of thousands of dollars from them,
by making promises on which they do not deliver; you want to provide them with
more value than they are paying for.

DISCLAIMERS

Acknowledge that you are not always right and that the advice you provide is
based purely on your personal experience and opinion, and not on hard and fast
rules.

AUTHENTICITY

Be real for your client. No consultant is an island. If there is an area
where your client would be better served by other experts more experienced
in that niche, freely refer the inventor to experts whom you respect. Everyone
will benefit.

I became a consultant with no intention of becoming one. However, what I was
doing by freely sharing my knowledge and experience with inventors, was consulting.
You are a consultant when you realize that this activity is taking X % of your
time from your core business, and you declare that you are one.

Now that you are a consultant, delete ‘Reluctant’, and enjoy what
consulting provides to both the inventor, who gains instant access to your years of experience, and to yourself,
for the gift of contributing to people.

Joan Lefkowitz, an original marketer of TopsyTail™, is president of ACCESSORY BRAINSTORMS, NYC, a licensing agency, sales representative and consultancy for Fashion/Beauty Accessoryand Lifestyle Inventions. Accessory Brainstorms is always looking for inventions in these categories, and offers one-on-one consulting.ACCESSORIES Magazine awarded Joan for “Most Inventive Products” and cited her as one of the 100 most important accessories industry “Movers and Shakers”.Contact at www.accessorybrainstorms.com.